Vol. 471 No. 7
298 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Justice if she will have arrangements made to investigate the reason a prisoner was not thoroughly searched on leaving Mountjoy Prison on 13 November 1996; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the prisoner subsequently attacked a garda while trying to escape at Ballyshannon, County Donegal, on his way to court in Milford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21830/96]
I am aware of the incident referred to by the Deputy. Incidents such as this are always the subject of an investigation and I am awaiting a full report on the incident from the governor of Mountjoy Prison. Pending receipt of that report, I do not consider that I should make any further comment on this particular incident. I can, however, assure the Deputy that following previous similar escape attempts which took place recently, I have ordered a review of the searching procedure and of escorts generally.
